Challenges forward

By Rob Cameron in Bratislava

Saturday evening did really feel like a second. Addressing crowds of supporters in her impromptu election HQ at Bratislava’s Habsburg-era indoor market, Zuzana Caputova quietly extolled values that now appear to come back from a bygone political age: compassion, tolerance, reality.

However whereas liberals rejoice at what they see as proof the tide of populism in Central Europe will be turned, some urge warning.

One analyst mentioned darkly inside hours of her election: “Anticipate Fico to launch a marketing campaign in opposition to her immediately, earlier than June’s inauguration.”

He added that parliament would search to stymie her liberal agenda even earlier than she took workplace, for instance by passing laws to make same-sex marriage troublesome if not unattainable.

However, he mentioned, her enchantment to voters remained robust.

“Viktor Orban [the Hungarian PM] attacked her onerous from Budapest,” he mentioned. “However I am listening to most ethnic Hungarians [10% of Slovakia’s population] voted for her anyway.”

Picture copyrightAFP

Picture caption
Maros Sefcovic has a variety of expertise – as a diplomat and a senior EU official

Within the first spherical, Ms Caputova gained 40% of the vote, with Mr Sefcovic gaining lower than 19%.

A number of heads of state – together with these of neighbouring Austria and Ukraine – have expressed their assist for Ms Caputova on social media.

Skip Twitter put up by @vanderbellen

My warmest congratulations to Zuzana #Čaputová, President-elect of #Slovakia, on the spectacular success within the presidential election in Austria’s neighbouring nation. Wishing her all the very best and success for every thing that lies forward. (vdb)

— A. Van der Bellen (@vanderbellen) March 31, 2019

Finish of Twitter put up by @vanderbellen

She can be sworn in on 15 June when Slovakia’s present president, Andrej Kiska, finishes his time period of workplace.